Fastening and releasing means for document receptacles



Dec 25, 1 928. 1,696,181

L. M. BALLOWE FASTENING AND RELEASING MEANS FOR DOCUMENT RECEPTACLESFiled Dec. 7, 1926It!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'I'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIIII/ OWE IN VENTOR.

5" A ORNEY Patented Dec. 25, 1928.

LEIGH MILLIOAN BALLOWE, or DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR To T. e. SMITH, orDALLAS,

' TEXAS. J

FASTENING AND RELEASING MEANS FOR DOCUMENT RECEPTACLES.

Application filed December This invention relates to improvements indevices for maintaining files of legal documents or other instruments ofwriting in compact form, as in filing the same for the ready locationthereof, and in such connection it pertains more particularly to thenovel arrangement and construction thereof.

The present invention is a continuation in art of an application for abinder band led December 11, 1922 under Serial Number 606,245.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a ready and quickmeans for releasing and closing the Wings, cover or flaps of adocumentary envelope, that is of the sort usually employed to containseveral instruments of writing. Ordinarily such envelopes, pockets orholders are held closed by a rubber band, sometimes by a, cord and someat tempts have also been made to form on the envelope a clasp, hook,band, or other means for maintaining the envelope in closed formation.

The present invention provides a hook and eye construction embodied inthe envelope and so arranged that a slight pressure will either releasethe folds or flaps of the envelope or fasten them together. Thisarrangement eliminates the use of rubber bands, cords, strings, wires,or hands of cloth. Rubber bands after a. short while lose theirelasticity and break, while tying such documents or envelopes withcords, strings, etc., is tedious and consumes considerable time.

In the drawing herein annexed and made a part of this specification,

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of an envelope or documentcontainer embodying the features of the invention and 1llustrating themanner of manipulation.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the envelope or container showing theposition of the fastening means.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 8, and slightly enlarged,illustrating .the relative positions of the hook and eye and theenvelope flaps in fastening or 'unfastening the envelope.

Proceeding in accordance with the drawings and wherein similar numeralsdenote the various parts, 1 denotes the body of the envelope or documentcontainer which con- .sists of a longitudinal strip of cardboard 2,

7, 1926. Serial No. 153,083.

including the end flaps 3. The strip 3 is se- ,751,696,181 PATENTOFFICE,

cured in any preferred manner to the central part which includes theside flaps 5 and 5. The dotted lines 6 are markings or creases forenabling the side flaps to be easily bent to form-different sizes ofenvelope.

In the margin of the side flap 5 is secured a hook 7 The flap 5 is firstperforated, and a grommet 8 compressed in the perforation, and then thebase 9 which forms an integral part of the hook is bradded inside thegrommet 8. Inthis manner the hook is securely fastened. 1 a 7 It will benoticed that the hook7 is first directed outwardly in alinement with thegrommet opening and then bent at right angles to itself. This makes itpossible to ob tain a perfect locking effect in either of the eyes orgrommets 10 on the flap 5.

In the manipulation of the device and as clearly indicated in Figures 1,f and 5, the fingers 11 and thumb 12 are placed on opposite sides of theenvelope and a slight pressure brought thereupon. The envelope will thenassume the curved position shown in Figure 4 which enables the hook 7 tobe easily removed from any one of grommets 10 by lifting the flap 5carrying the hook. WVhen fastening the flaps together the pressure isapplied as before including a slight pressure on the hook. The operationis quick and easily performed either in fasteningor unfastening thedevice. r

The hook and eyes or grommets are applicable to most any style ofenvelope intended for written documents, bills, receipts or in fact anycollection of papers receivable in an envelope, pocket or container ofthis nature.

What is claimed is: Y v

A receptacle of the character described, comprising overlying side flapsand end flaps, a grommet positioned within the body of one of said sideflaps adjacent but spaced from the edge thereof, a hook comprising abase,

a shank and an extremity, said base being formed as a hollow cylinderseated 1n said grommet, a portion of said cylinder being extended toform said shank and sa-id extremity, a plurality of hook-receivinggrommets seated in perforations spaced apart on the other of said sideflaps, said shank being smooth and in substantial alignment with saidcylindrical base portion, and said extremit-y extending atsubstantiallyright angles to said shank for a distance less than theill) inner diameter of one of said hook-receiving grommets and in adirection away from the free edge of the flap carrying said hook toermit said hook with its shank and extrem- 5 My to move freely throughsaid hook-receiving grommet on pressure of the sides of said receptacleand to permit said extremity to engage under the edge of said hookreceiving grommet to lock said hook in said hookrecviving grommet onrelease of said pres- 10 sure.

In testimol'ly whereof I aflix my signature.

LEIGH MILLICAI\ BALLOVVE.

